The 53-year-old Nunnelee ran on a platform of improving the economy and reining in government spending. His opponents, though, said he hadn't done enough in his one term to cut spending or to fight policies of President Barack Obama.

Nunnelee first won election in 2010, defeating one-term Democratic incumbent Travis Childers. Before that he served 17 years in the state Senate.

In the general election, Nunnelee will face Democrat Brad Morris of Oxford, Libertarian Danny Bedwell of Columbus, Reform Party member Chris Potts and Constitution Party member Jim Bourland.